The Americans are chiding the Chinese for not conforming to
international law in claiming the islands in the South China Sea. China
has retorted that it is abiding by the international law of the day and
historical records to support their claims.
Let’s see how the Americans abided by international law in its claim of
the north American continent compares to what China is doing. When China
claimed the South China Sea islands, it was during a time when the rule
of law was finders keeper. This is still valid when an island, a no
man’s land is unclaimed by any country. When China made their claims,
the islands were all no man’s land. And they have made their claims
several centuries back. The littoral states that are claiming these
islands don’t even know that the islands existed until recently and are
contesting China’s claim. China could simply show them the middle
finger.
When the Europeans claimed north America, the continent was NOT no man’s
land. It was populated by millions of north American natives. It was
their land. The Europeans simply took the land, murdered the natives,
historically the worst genocide in terms of numbers. American historians
have recorded the death toll to range from 70 million conservatively to
more than 100 million.
What kind of law were the European Americans talking about? What kind of
natural justice were they standing on today to comment about the claims
made by China? The Americans are the last people to talk about
international law that they have been violating for centuries and still
doing it everyday. The Americans should be the last people to talk of
human rights and killing of the innocence when they have done that for
centuries and still doing it daily.
What kind of rubbish are the Americans talking about? What audacity and a
distortion of the rule of law and natural justice that the Americans
think they are on moral and legal high ground to comment about China?
2/10/2014
Pioneering Generation recognized
The announcement of the package for the pioneering generation is
welcomed particularly on the subsidies towards the Medishield Life that
could deal a heavy blow financially to all the oldies. They were caught
in an era of low income, relatively speaking, and now faced with high
inflation that had eaten up whatever little savings they have. And the
medical bills they are going to face are daunting, just the premiums
alone could make many of them bankrupt out right the moment it is
announced.
The pioneering package would have taken away this fear to a great extent. But those that were cut off from receiving this package would better be financially comfortable to face the full impact of the Medishield Life. Some who missed the package marginally would naturally not be too happy. But as in all such cases, a line has to be drawn and some would be painfully cut off to lick their wounds.
To make things more painful is the line drawn for ‘new’ citizens when the cut off is up to the year 1987. Anyone converted to a citizen before 1987 would be eligible for the package. That could make many of these new citizens who would be younger than the 65 years cut off point. How so?
What is the logic to this that in a way favours the new citizens against the natural citizens? From our independence in 1965 to 1987 there is a difference of 22 years. Is the govt being too generous to the new citizens again? What is the purpose or rationale for doing this to upset the citizens?
If I can recollect, in mid 70s the govt gave an ultimatum to those Malaysians working here, in the uniformed services, to convert their citizenship. Some converted and some went back to Malaysia. This could be a reason to recognize the tough choice that this group of people had to make. But most of them would have converted before 1980. Why is there a need to stretch the cut off point to 1987 to include many more relatively new citizens?
Like it or not, this is going to be a sore point to the citizens that missed out and who would thing rightlyfully that they are more deserving than the new citizens converted after 1975 or 1980, let not 1987.
What do you think?
Kopi level - Green
The pioneering package would have taken away this fear to a great extent. But those that were cut off from receiving this package would better be financially comfortable to face the full impact of the Medishield Life. Some who missed the package marginally would naturally not be too happy. But as in all such cases, a line has to be drawn and some would be painfully cut off to lick their wounds.
To make things more painful is the line drawn for ‘new’ citizens when the cut off is up to the year 1987. Anyone converted to a citizen before 1987 would be eligible for the package. That could make many of these new citizens who would be younger than the 65 years cut off point. How so?
What is the logic to this that in a way favours the new citizens against the natural citizens? From our independence in 1965 to 1987 there is a difference of 22 years. Is the govt being too generous to the new citizens again? What is the purpose or rationale for doing this to upset the citizens?
If I can recollect, in mid 70s the govt gave an ultimatum to those Malaysians working here, in the uniformed services, to convert their citizenship. Some converted and some went back to Malaysia. This could be a reason to recognize the tough choice that this group of people had to make. But most of them would have converted before 1980. Why is there a need to stretch the cut off point to 1987 to include many more relatively new citizens?
Like it or not, this is going to be a sore point to the citizens that missed out and who would thing rightlyfully that they are more deserving than the new citizens converted after 1975 or 1980, let not 1987.
What do you think?
Kopi level - Green
MAS and SGX propose measures to strengthen the securities market
‘The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX)
today released a joint consultation paper setting out proposals to
strengthen the securities market in Singapore.
The proposals follow an extensive review by MAS and SGX of the securities market in Singapore. The review concluded that while the securities market remains sound, there were three areas for improvement:
• promoting orderly trading and responsible investing;
• improving the transparency of market intervention measures; and
• strengthening the process for admitting new listings and enforcing against listing rule breaches.’
It is timely that MAS and SGX finally find a need to take a look at the health of the stock exchange and are inviting feedbacks on what needs to be done to make the stock market a more resilient and sustainable institution for the long haul. The objectives of this exercise are posted above, copied from SGX.
For all intent and purpose, this is a move in the right direction, a sign that things are not doing well and to take a serious look at the problems before it falls apart. On the other hand, this exercise tells another depressing story. The proposed changes and the need to ask the layman public on such serious and technical issues that require the technical knowledge of experts and thinking people in the industry says that MAS and SGX do not know what is wrong with the stock market. It is doing fine, just a little cosmetic changes and it will look pretty again.
Or, it may be that they know what is wrong but are turning the other way, not wanting to face the uncomfortable truth and wishing that everything is fine. There is no elephant in the classroom.
The public, even the stakeholders, if they are not willing to put on their thinking caps to look seriously into the problems that led to the current pathetic state of the stock broking industry would at best scratch the surface of a systemic problem and would make a few cursory or casual remarks and suggestions and thinking the problems will go away. From my experience, many are still totally ignorant of what is happening and the real causes of the failing market.
The stock market is in the critically ill stage and needs immediate resuscitation if it is not to collapse into a coma. And the proposals made by MAS and SGX are not encouraging. It is like a patient dying of syphilis and the doctors are recommending treatments for measles, for acne, and for insect bites. Unless MAS and SGX are serious to want to save the stock market from its certain demise, this exercise would be a waste of effort and time.
To be able to come up with effective measures to save the stock market, it is paramount that they know what is wrong with the market. What are the causes that are contributing to a market in distress. If they are chasing after the shadows, what good would come out of it? If they don’t even know what is wrong with the market, what is there to do to right the wrongs?
Another very important factor that can make this exercise real, if real solutions and tough measures are to be taken to revive the market, is professional expertise. You need people who know what they are saying, to know what is wrong and what needs to be done, and most of all, have the credentials and authority to tell the SGX that these things must change. Recommendations made by the public, or the stakeholders, could simply be ‘pooh pooh’ away by the SGX for obvious reasons and by the authority vested in them as the incumbent officials. They would flash their badge of professionalism and expertise and simply claimed that they know best and what they are doing are the best, and nothing meaningful will be accepted. Who is in a better position to go against the gods?
What can the other stakeholders do when authority and power are vested in the office bearers at SGX to make them change a flawed system?
The MAS should engage foreign experts that have the knowledge and authority to tell the SGX what needs to be done to save the industry. Here we are talking about real talents, people like Paul Volcker and the critics of the NYSE, of how the NYSE has been turned into a scam, a casino instead of a stock exchange. The western model stock markets, including SGX, are no longer stock markets for investment but for pure gambling, not even for speculations.
Now who is saying that we should not encourage a gambling mentality in the stock market when the stock market has been redesigned into a casino? There is no elephant in the classroom if one does not want to look at it.
This is just my general comments on this exercise. I will submit my views on what is wrong and what needs to change, and I will submit it to MAS and SGX even knowing that it would likely end up in the thrash bin. No one, not even the broking houses, would be in any position to make serious and important changes to the right the wrongs in the stock market if the authority in MAS and SGX do not want to see the wrongs and do not want to make changes to a system they think is doing fine.
For real changes to be effected, you need the pros that could speak to the MAS and SGX on equal terms and have the clout and confidence to make them do the right changes against their objections. The govt must spend this money if they do not want to see the worse from happening.
The few proposals put up by MAS/SGX would have little impact on the general health of the stock market, and some would actually hasten its demise if implemented. It just shows the level of thinking and understanding of what is happening to the stock market. They are refusing to remove the blinkers and are trapped in an old mindset programmed by the so called experts, to see and say the right things that are really frivolous.
The proposals follow an extensive review by MAS and SGX of the securities market in Singapore. The review concluded that while the securities market remains sound, there were three areas for improvement:
• promoting orderly trading and responsible investing;
• improving the transparency of market intervention measures; and
• strengthening the process for admitting new listings and enforcing against listing rule breaches.’
It is timely that MAS and SGX finally find a need to take a look at the health of the stock exchange and are inviting feedbacks on what needs to be done to make the stock market a more resilient and sustainable institution for the long haul. The objectives of this exercise are posted above, copied from SGX.
For all intent and purpose, this is a move in the right direction, a sign that things are not doing well and to take a serious look at the problems before it falls apart. On the other hand, this exercise tells another depressing story. The proposed changes and the need to ask the layman public on such serious and technical issues that require the technical knowledge of experts and thinking people in the industry says that MAS and SGX do not know what is wrong with the stock market. It is doing fine, just a little cosmetic changes and it will look pretty again.
Or, it may be that they know what is wrong but are turning the other way, not wanting to face the uncomfortable truth and wishing that everything is fine. There is no elephant in the classroom.
The public, even the stakeholders, if they are not willing to put on their thinking caps to look seriously into the problems that led to the current pathetic state of the stock broking industry would at best scratch the surface of a systemic problem and would make a few cursory or casual remarks and suggestions and thinking the problems will go away. From my experience, many are still totally ignorant of what is happening and the real causes of the failing market.
The stock market is in the critically ill stage and needs immediate resuscitation if it is not to collapse into a coma. And the proposals made by MAS and SGX are not encouraging. It is like a patient dying of syphilis and the doctors are recommending treatments for measles, for acne, and for insect bites. Unless MAS and SGX are serious to want to save the stock market from its certain demise, this exercise would be a waste of effort and time.
To be able to come up with effective measures to save the stock market, it is paramount that they know what is wrong with the market. What are the causes that are contributing to a market in distress. If they are chasing after the shadows, what good would come out of it? If they don’t even know what is wrong with the market, what is there to do to right the wrongs?
Another very important factor that can make this exercise real, if real solutions and tough measures are to be taken to revive the market, is professional expertise. You need people who know what they are saying, to know what is wrong and what needs to be done, and most of all, have the credentials and authority to tell the SGX that these things must change. Recommendations made by the public, or the stakeholders, could simply be ‘pooh pooh’ away by the SGX for obvious reasons and by the authority vested in them as the incumbent officials. They would flash their badge of professionalism and expertise and simply claimed that they know best and what they are doing are the best, and nothing meaningful will be accepted. Who is in a better position to go against the gods?
What can the other stakeholders do when authority and power are vested in the office bearers at SGX to make them change a flawed system?
The MAS should engage foreign experts that have the knowledge and authority to tell the SGX what needs to be done to save the industry. Here we are talking about real talents, people like Paul Volcker and the critics of the NYSE, of how the NYSE has been turned into a scam, a casino instead of a stock exchange. The western model stock markets, including SGX, are no longer stock markets for investment but for pure gambling, not even for speculations.
Now who is saying that we should not encourage a gambling mentality in the stock market when the stock market has been redesigned into a casino? There is no elephant in the classroom if one does not want to look at it.
This is just my general comments on this exercise. I will submit my views on what is wrong and what needs to change, and I will submit it to MAS and SGX even knowing that it would likely end up in the thrash bin. No one, not even the broking houses, would be in any position to make serious and important changes to the right the wrongs in the stock market if the authority in MAS and SGX do not want to see the wrongs and do not want to make changes to a system they think is doing fine.
For real changes to be effected, you need the pros that could speak to the MAS and SGX on equal terms and have the clout and confidence to make them do the right changes against their objections. The govt must spend this money if they do not want to see the worse from happening.
The few proposals put up by MAS/SGX would have little impact on the general health of the stock market, and some would actually hasten its demise if implemented. It just shows the level of thinking and understanding of what is happening to the stock market. They are refusing to remove the blinkers and are trapped in an old mindset programmed by the so called experts, to see and say the right things that are really frivolous.
2/09/2014
Les Miserables – A Singapore musical
The latest talk in town is about the two musicals
commissioned to write about the life of LKY in time for the 50 year celebration
next year. This has created a buzz unseen and unheard of in the arts scene for
a long time. Even the winning of several awards by Anthony Chen with his Ilo
Ilo movie pales in comparison. I just feel like dabbling and smoking about this
new fuzz, oops, I mean buzz, and Sunday morning is about the best moment for such an intellectual or artistic pursuit or whatever you call it.
No, I don’t think I am up to it to write a musical. It is
Greek to me and you need to be very talented individuals to do such a piece of
work. Maybe Anthony or Jack Neo can have a go at it. Wait a minute, Jack Neo
is Channel 8, so will be out of contention for sure unless the musical is to
cater for the Chinese educated audience. That would put Ivan Heng a top
contender for such a luminous project for his Channel 5 viewers.
The plots for the two musicals may have already been
scripted by now. There must be plenty of plots and sub plots in the life of LKY
to interest the audience. His life is the history of modern Singapore.
Let’s hope the producers are not going to write about the founding of Singapore
like they have done in every National Day or about the multi racial society.
Have something new and novel. They are after all a musical and some fictions
and dramatisation would be acceptable.
I think a musical in the likes of Les Miserables, Singapore
version, on how LKY fought to liberate the people from poverty would be a nice
one. We can see him taking to the streets fighting alongside the Hock Lee bus
drivers or the port workers and with a finale showing how the lives of the
workers have improved and become millionaires. And we can have Fish humming his
favourite tune, ‘Do you hear the people sing’, with gusto in the background.
Did I hear ‘No’, I can feel so many people shaking their
heads and giving me a dirty look. Why is that so? Ok, ok, let me try another
title, ‘Showdown at the Cul de sac’. How about this, LKY taking his opponents
one by one and coming out triumphant every time. We can bring in Donnie Yen or Sammo
Hung to choreograph the fight scenes. The pinoy pacman would be in awe to see
how the opponents were taken down and KO for good, while some simply fled the
scene.
What? No good? Too
much violence? I thought violence sells. You people are hard to please. Or you
prefer more mushy stuff like how he courted his wife and the never ending
romance?
Ok, let me attempt another title, Fist fights in Parliament?
This one would have historical values and history students would have a chance
to see all the parliamentarians battling out in Parliament House. We can add
some pepper and salt by introducing some fictional scenes of brawls and chairs
throwing ala Taiwan
style. Our celebrity MPs and ministers could also chip in, like Zorro with his
whip or sword. Won’t that be dramatic and with a little comical distractions
and reliefs?
Oh, the objections for this one is not so violent. Looks
like I am getting somewhere. I hope the musicals would not make LKY look too
wussy or less macho. Talking about this, I am sure the crying scene would be a
must have. How to weave this into the plots? Should be no problem if the time
frame goes back to the days of Malaysia.
Can even include the singing of Negara Ku since musicals must have a lot of
songs.
The possibilities and the amount of material available are
so immense that two musicals would not do justice to this great leader. This
reminds me of another possible title, ‘Dear Leader’. Ouch! Don’t you people
have any sense of humour? Musicals can have many themes, sad, joyous, comedy,
satirical, romance, corruption, injustice, oppression, historical or simply a musical with a lot of good music and theme
songs. As long as the moral of the musical is good and a good ending. Better still if it can draw out the emotions of the people, with some having their hankies wet from tears, laughing or crying.
I can still hear Fish singing, ‘Do you hear the people sing,
singing a song of angry men. It is the music of a people, who would not be
slaves again…’ How nice if LKY and Fish could sing this song together in the
musical before the curtain falls and sing again for the encore.
Kopi level - Yellow
Kopi level - Yellow
The flawed concepts and designs of the F35
Anyone
who wants a clear understanding on why the F35 is a conceptually flawed and
very expensive piece of junk can listen to the opinions of experts aired this
clip attached. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mxDSiwqM2nw
Basically
it is all about the same concept that someone was pushing a few decades ago,
multi tasking and ended with everyone becoming jack of all trades and master of
none. The assumption behind this concept is that everyone is a super talent so
can be taught to be an expert in many tasks and roles. In reality multi super talent
is a rarity.
The
F35 is supposed to do everything, close air support for the infantry, carries a
lot of payloads/bombs, a good interceptor fighter, and a stealth aircraft. It
is like trying to put a Bentley, a Ferrari, a Landrover and maybe a motorcycle
into one machine. The result is obvious, and that is what the F35 is all about,
rojak.
Not
only that, you would expect to have pilots that can perform like a super robocop
in the cockpit to operate the aircraft to its maximum capability it was
designed for. You need a machine to fly that machine.
Another
silly problem is that instead of paying the same money for 10 specialised
aircraft that are good in their respective tasks, one will be buying one such
compromised aircraft for the price of 10 and can be used in one theatre of
operations at a time when 10 aircraft can be deployed in many areas. The
presumed saving is that you need to train one super robocop instead of 10
different specialisation pilots.
The
flaws of the F35 are infamous and known to all the players in the industry. It
is really very funny, maybe not funny anymore, that we are so adamant to buy
this aircraft as a must have. All the experts in the world are finding this
aircraft a lemon except our experts. They said the difference between a genius
and insanity is only a fine thin line.
We
shall wait patiently to see if this aircraft is bought to be our top of the range
multi purpose multi tasking fighter/bomber/GD aircraft.
Happy
viewing the video clip.
Kopi level - Yellow
Kopi level - Yellow
2/08/2014
Tan Cheng Bock - I invite, I disinvite
There are many ways to look at this comedy. I like to call
it so and I am going to drum about it. What I am saying is pure drumming as
there is no element of truth in it. Just for a little giggle.
Think that this invite could be real, intentional, carefully
choreographed. I invite you to this grand party. I know you like to be there as
it is the right place to be at this time of the year. Then I disinvite you.
This is like telling the guest, see, you could be there. All I need is to send
you the invitation. But you must know which side is your bread buttered. Now I
am letting you know that you could be there but I decided not to let you be
there.
The above of course is based on the assumption that there is
no mistake in the invite. But it could be a simple mistake. It could happen in
several ways. One way is that the junior executive that sent out the invite was
just doing a routine job. Get the list compiled which is an annual exercise and
sent it out with the clearance of the immediate boss. They have been doing this
every year. It is like second nature.
Then the bigger boss read the list and decided that
something is amiss and decided that some must be dropped. And the order came
down and someone has to do the job of telling the unpleasant truth of the
disinvite.
Or it could be a genuine mistake like the CIA using an
outdated map to bomb the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade.
It was a genuine mistake that the loser must squeeze his balls and accept the
explanation as genuine and it came with a sincere apology.
The stature of Cheng Bock has risen since he came so close
to be the President of the country. Many believe that he is the President but
somehow was robbed of the post by many funny reasons. And many believe strongly
that he would definitely be the President if there is a reelection.
For being such a near miss President, would it not be nice
and respectful to invite him to the Istana that could be his, or he could be
the host for the party? Would his presence make people feel uneasy and be
confused as to which one is the real people’s president? Thus it is better to do the disinvite to
avoid any red faces even knowing that Cheng Bock would not be there to claim
that he could be the party host that night.
What do you think?
Medishield Life – No need to pay one, it is free
‘'Mr Gan said that working adults should not
need to fork out any extra cash to pay for the new MediShield Life. That is
because the Govt intends the individuals to pay the higher premium entirely
from his Medisave.
He said that the individual’s annual Medisave contributions should be enough to pay for it.’
The above is everything you want to know about
the Medishield Life Scheme. It is everything but nothing but your savings in
your Medisave saving accounts, in the minimum sum. No matter how much you have,
it will be just enough to feed this scheme. And it will be painless because you
don’t see it and don’t feel it. They just quietly drain the money in your
Medisave Account for you to pay for this Medishielf Life scheme whether you
like it or not, whether you need it or not.
I remember in the past many people used to say,
it is free, when they bought HDB flats or stay in the hospitals, all because
the payment comes from their CPF savings. I think this will be a better
promotional catchphrase, ‘Medishield Life is Free, no need to pay’. No cash
needed to be paid up front. Everything will be just on papers, like what is
being printed in your CPF statements. There is a lot of money there and there
will be a lot of money being transferred compulsorily from your account when
Medishield Life is enforced.
And every daft Sinkie can go around happily
saying that Medishield Life is so good, or the govt is so good. It is free. No
need to pay one.
Our retirement saving scheme in the form of CPF
is so unique that despite setting aside so much for our retirement, many will
end up without any money left or not enough for retirement. The trick is that
the public housing scheme and the impending Medishield Life Insurance scheme
will have first charge to draw down from the CPF, all designed to draw as much
as they could without drawing blood and causing immediate pain. The way the CPF
savings are spent is so ingenious that the daft Sinkies don’t even know what is
happening to their savings. Simply brilliant and deserving to be paid in the
millions! It does not hurt your pocket, only what is put into your CPF, your
life time savings.
So, is it free or not free?
Singapore’s political scene – We have a situation
Judging
by the volume of anti govt diatribes in the social media, if it is true and
reflects the sentiment of the majority of the citizens, the ruling govt’s days
are numbered. It appears that they have outlived their welcome and usefulness.
Their one trick economic policy of growing the GDP based on population increase
and selling land and properties has reached a point of no return. Any curbs on
population growth will lead to a collapse of the property market on top of
other international factors, and will bring the majority of the people on their
knees.
The
cry of VTO or Vote Them Out is deafening. It is the cry for change. Is it real
or just a few lunatics in the fringe beating their drums? Who is wiser? Assuming
that it is real, that the next GE will bundle the PAP out, lock, stock and
barrel, there will be a vacuum of leadership that badly needs to be filled. The
country cannot go on without a team of able leadership on stand by to take over
in such an eventuality.
We
have a situation!
The
various opposition parties are too small, weak and fragmented to assume
political leadership on their own steam or even as a coalition. There is an
urgent need for the opposition to come together, to be led by an able leader.
At the moment there is unfortunately no one to fill this shoe. One of the
activists and potential leaders, or available leaders, Low Thia Kiang, Sylvia
Lim, Chen Show Mao, Chee Soon Juan, Tambiah, Kenneth Jeyaratnam, Chiam See Tong,
Jeanette etc etc would have to stand up to be the ONE to lead the country in
the event of a dramatic PAP KO. On the sideline there are Tan Jee Say, Tan Kin
Lian or maybe Tan Cheng Bock or perhaps a few breakaways from the PAP that may
rise to the occasion. Could he be the Chan Chun Sing, Tharman, or the return of
Goh Chok Tong? Chok Tong is still young and has many years to go before he hits
100. Would any one of these politicians be able to rally the rest and the
people behind him to form the new govt?
There
is a crisis of leadership if the PAP falls in 2016. The possibility may be
remote but not really impossible. It could happen. Maybe in time of crisis,
some unknowns or dark horses could surface, just like destiny, to bring
together the loose and disconnected political forces into a new force to lead
the country. History often throws up true leaders or new champions as if a
natural order of things. Singapore would be lucky if it
happens quick and fast or it would be thrown into turmoil for lack of a leader.
We
have seen such situations in the histories of nations. We are seeing a similar
situation happening now in Thailand, when there is no
anointed one to rise above the dusts to be acknowledged as the ONE to lead.
We
have a situation and how would this be overcome? Who would be the ONE to lead Singapore into the next leg? So far
no one is in horizon and this is bad.
PS,
after reading the disinvite of Tan Cheng Bock, maybe he can be a good candidate
to provide the glue for the opposition parties. We not only did not have an
Anwar Ibrahim, we don’t have leaders who would take a step back for a bigger
common good even if we can find an Anwar Ibrahim.
2/07/2014
A time to face reality, we are just a red dot
“There’s no need to change [the ship’s name],” he told The Jakarta Post.
“The Indonesian government has its own rules, procedures and assessment criteria for determining whether to honor a person as a hero. This cannot involve any intervention from other countries.”
The Today paper quoting Indonesian Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, Djoko Suyanto on the naming of an Indonesia frigate about two terrorists for bombing MacDonald House in 1965.
Our ministers have registered the govt’s concerns and respectfully told the Indonesians of the feelings of the victims’s families and ‘to consider the implications and consequences of the move.’ What are these implications and consequences? Obviously the Indonesians are not bothered with them. So?
What would be Singapore’s next move, or would there be any next move, or would the case be closed?
In a situation like this when our govt finds it necessary to put forth our objections, the reactions of the other party and our follow up actions will show what we are made of. Are we just a little red dot to be brushed aside or are we able to punch above our weight? If we can’t punch above our weight, it is best not to blow up matters that would not be beneficial to our interests.
We are in a little sticky situation now, aren’t we?
“The Indonesian government has its own rules, procedures and assessment criteria for determining whether to honor a person as a hero. This cannot involve any intervention from other countries.”
The Today paper quoting Indonesian Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, Djoko Suyanto on the naming of an Indonesia frigate about two terrorists for bombing MacDonald House in 1965.
Our ministers have registered the govt’s concerns and respectfully told the Indonesians of the feelings of the victims’s families and ‘to consider the implications and consequences of the move.’ What are these implications and consequences? Obviously the Indonesians are not bothered with them. So?
What would be Singapore’s next move, or would there be any next move, or would the case be closed?
In a situation like this when our govt finds it necessary to put forth our objections, the reactions of the other party and our follow up actions will show what we are made of. Are we just a little red dot to be brushed aside or are we able to punch above our weight? If we can’t punch above our weight, it is best not to blow up matters that would not be beneficial to our interests.
We are in a little sticky situation now, aren’t we?
Shawn Tan - A man of 3 seasons
I would like to repeat this story of a man, full of himself, that
visited Confucius to have an intellectual discourse with him. During his
visit Confucius was having his meditation and could not see him
immediately. So he engaged Confucius’ disciple on his theory of 3
seasons. He told the disciple confidently that there were only 3 seasons
and not 4. They had a furious discussion and both could not agree
obviously. To this man, there were only 3 seasons, but 4 to Confucius’
disciple.
When Confucius came to the room, his disciple explained to him what the commotion was about. Confucius nodded and agreed with the man to the astonishment of his disciple. How could that be when everyone knew that there were four seasons? After the man left, the unconvinced disciple confronted his master. Confucius explained that the man was like a kind of insect that lived only till autumn and would die before winter. In the insect’s lifespan it was good for only 3 reasons and would never know what winter was all about. And he was right.
My post on the interest rate for Medisave Minimum Sum received some ridicules from this Shawn Tan in TheRealSingapore site. Shawn Tan was confidently sure that I was talking nonsense on two points. There is a Medisave Account and no Medisave Minimum Sum Account. He was also very sure that the Medisave Account pays 4% interest rate and I got my facts wrong and posting rubbish without getting my facts right.
I just sent a reply to the CPF telling them that based on my statement in the CPF online record, the sum paid to me for my Medisave Minimum Sum was 1.92%. I got the numbers using a calculator. The amount of interest paid to my Retirement Account was 5.1%. Both numbers are facts, not guessing and have been sent to the CPF. Shawn Tan may choose to believe that I was talking rubbish still, with no facts or wrong facts. He is entitled to his belief.
In his post, he confidently said that there was only a Medisave Account and no such things as Medisave Minimum Sum Account. Let me quote from the CPF site on this.
‘What is Medisave Minimum Sum (MMS)?
The Medisave Minimum Sum (MMS) is the amount you need to retain in your Medisave Account (MA) for your healthcare needs. You may withdraw any excess Medisave savings on or after 55 subject to the applicable withdrawal rules after meeting the CPF MS requirement.
If you have set aside the CPF MS but are unable to meet the MMS requirement when you make a CPF withdrawal, you would need to top up your MA with all or part of the balances from your Special Account and Ordinary Account to meet the MMS prevailing at the time of withdrawal.
Since 1 July 2013, the MMS is $40,500.’
The MMS is only known to those who reached retirement age, or those who are in the know when what is left in the Medisave Account will be the MMS. For the young and not in the know, they will only know that there is a Medisave Account but no MMS. The quote from CPF site above explained clearly what MMS is. Let’s hope Shawn will understand that there is a MMS when he reaches retirement age. For the time being he can be confident that he is right, that there is no MMS.
A man of 3 seasons.
When Confucius came to the room, his disciple explained to him what the commotion was about. Confucius nodded and agreed with the man to the astonishment of his disciple. How could that be when everyone knew that there were four seasons? After the man left, the unconvinced disciple confronted his master. Confucius explained that the man was like a kind of insect that lived only till autumn and would die before winter. In the insect’s lifespan it was good for only 3 reasons and would never know what winter was all about. And he was right.
My post on the interest rate for Medisave Minimum Sum received some ridicules from this Shawn Tan in TheRealSingapore site. Shawn Tan was confidently sure that I was talking nonsense on two points. There is a Medisave Account and no Medisave Minimum Sum Account. He was also very sure that the Medisave Account pays 4% interest rate and I got my facts wrong and posting rubbish without getting my facts right.
I just sent a reply to the CPF telling them that based on my statement in the CPF online record, the sum paid to me for my Medisave Minimum Sum was 1.92%. I got the numbers using a calculator. The amount of interest paid to my Retirement Account was 5.1%. Both numbers are facts, not guessing and have been sent to the CPF. Shawn Tan may choose to believe that I was talking rubbish still, with no facts or wrong facts. He is entitled to his belief.
In his post, he confidently said that there was only a Medisave Account and no such things as Medisave Minimum Sum Account. Let me quote from the CPF site on this.
‘What is Medisave Minimum Sum (MMS)?
The Medisave Minimum Sum (MMS) is the amount you need to retain in your Medisave Account (MA) for your healthcare needs. You may withdraw any excess Medisave savings on or after 55 subject to the applicable withdrawal rules after meeting the CPF MS requirement.
If you have set aside the CPF MS but are unable to meet the MMS requirement when you make a CPF withdrawal, you would need to top up your MA with all or part of the balances from your Special Account and Ordinary Account to meet the MMS prevailing at the time of withdrawal.
Since 1 July 2013, the MMS is $40,500.’
The MMS is only known to those who reached retirement age, or those who are in the know when what is left in the Medisave Account will be the MMS. For the young and not in the know, they will only know that there is a Medisave Account but no MMS. The quote from CPF site above explained clearly what MMS is. Let’s hope Shawn will understand that there is a MMS when he reaches retirement age. For the time being he can be confident that he is right, that there is no MMS.
A man of 3 seasons.
KRI Usman Harun - Indonesia’s Yasukuni Shrine
The Chinese and Koreans are incensed whenever the Japanese paid tribute
to their war heroes enshrined in the Yasukuni Shrine. To the Chinese and
Koreans, and this should also apply to all the Southeast Asian states,
the war criminals in the Shrine were criminals and nothing else.
The Indonesian marines that bombed MacDonald House in 1965 killing 3 and wounding 33 Sinkies were terrorists as far as Singapore is concerned. To the Indonesians, the marines were their heroes. And they are naming a naval frigate KRI Usman Harun in their names to honour their heroic act.
This has drawn immediate reactions from Chee Hian, Eng Hen and Shanmugam who called their Indonesian counterparts to register our misgivings. The Indonesian stand, across their leadership, is consistent. It is their right to recognize their heroes who died in the course of duty to country even if it meant bombing and killing people in enemy countries that are now friends.
The KRI Usman Harun will be a rude reminder of what the Indonesians did to Singapore like the Yasukuni Shrine is to the Chinese and Koreans. We do not see or feel the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine and the visits by Japanese leaders to the Shrine and its implications. Other countries too would not understand or appreciate why we were aggrieved by the naming of KRI Usman Harun. It would become extra sensitive if this ship were to visit Singapore waters or if our naval ships were to engage in joint military exercises with the Indonesians.
Now we have a sore wound to rub with the Indonesians whenever KRI Usman Harun is seen or heard just like what Yasukuni is to the Chinese and Koreans. Maybe we can now appreciate why the Koreans and Chinese reacted that way and the mindset of the Japanese for their unfriendly and insensitive ways, like what the Indonesians are doing in this case.
No doubt they have the right to honour their heroes that are terrorists and executed by us after their attacks on our soil. The Indonesians have said the protest by Singapore is noted and the case is closed. Let’s move on.
How would Singapore react to this insensitivity of the Indonesians and our sensitivity to the act going forward? Should we erect two stones at the site of MacDonald House for Sinkies to throw stones at them?
The Indonesian marines that bombed MacDonald House in 1965 killing 3 and wounding 33 Sinkies were terrorists as far as Singapore is concerned. To the Indonesians, the marines were their heroes. And they are naming a naval frigate KRI Usman Harun in their names to honour their heroic act.
This has drawn immediate reactions from Chee Hian, Eng Hen and Shanmugam who called their Indonesian counterparts to register our misgivings. The Indonesian stand, across their leadership, is consistent. It is their right to recognize their heroes who died in the course of duty to country even if it meant bombing and killing people in enemy countries that are now friends.
The KRI Usman Harun will be a rude reminder of what the Indonesians did to Singapore like the Yasukuni Shrine is to the Chinese and Koreans. We do not see or feel the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine and the visits by Japanese leaders to the Shrine and its implications. Other countries too would not understand or appreciate why we were aggrieved by the naming of KRI Usman Harun. It would become extra sensitive if this ship were to visit Singapore waters or if our naval ships were to engage in joint military exercises with the Indonesians.
Now we have a sore wound to rub with the Indonesians whenever KRI Usman Harun is seen or heard just like what Yasukuni is to the Chinese and Koreans. Maybe we can now appreciate why the Koreans and Chinese reacted that way and the mindset of the Japanese for their unfriendly and insensitive ways, like what the Indonesians are doing in this case.
No doubt they have the right to honour their heroes that are terrorists and executed by us after their attacks on our soil. The Indonesians have said the protest by Singapore is noted and the case is closed. Let’s move on.
How would Singapore react to this insensitivity of the Indonesians and our sensitivity to the act going forward? Should we erect two stones at the site of MacDonald House for Sinkies to throw stones at them?
The future is bright for Sinkies
Try reading the titles of the two articles below to get a grasp of the
direction and the opportunities available for young Sinkies.
‘PM Lee assures young Singaporeans future is bright opportunities are plentiful – Singapolitics.sg’ and ‘Singapore government looking to encourage young Singaporeans to become carpenters with training and “rebranding”’.
This is no joking matter, serious. It was reported from as far as China and by China.org.cn and I quote, ‘The NTUC, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and the Singapore Furniture Industries Council also jointly launched a 3.5 million dollar program to train 180 carpenters in the next two years. The funding will cover their training and salary subsidies for employers. They are also considering efforts to rebrand carpenters as creative craftsmen to woo the young people.’
With the launch of this scheme they might bring in Chinese carpenters, oops I mean creative craftsmen masters, to train our young in creative carpentry. And this is not the first time ministers are talking about retraining our young. Some have been encouraged to become hawkers and crane drivers. Some have been encouraged not to pursue a tertiary education.
I wonder who Lucas Film are recruiting if young Sinkies are not encouraged to do tertiary education or IT related staff but to be hawkers and carpenters. I am too used to call a carpenter a carpenter and still have difficulties calling them creative craftsmen. There may be a rebranding of our hawkers to something like Tropical Alfesco Chef. Sounds great right? Hope it will be attractive enough to lure our young into making hawking a career.
‘PM Lee assures young Singaporeans future is bright opportunities are plentiful – Singapolitics.sg’ and ‘Singapore government looking to encourage young Singaporeans to become carpenters with training and “rebranding”’.
This is no joking matter, serious. It was reported from as far as China and by China.org.cn and I quote, ‘The NTUC, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and the Singapore Furniture Industries Council also jointly launched a 3.5 million dollar program to train 180 carpenters in the next two years. The funding will cover their training and salary subsidies for employers. They are also considering efforts to rebrand carpenters as creative craftsmen to woo the young people.’
With the launch of this scheme they might bring in Chinese carpenters, oops I mean creative craftsmen masters, to train our young in creative carpentry. And this is not the first time ministers are talking about retraining our young. Some have been encouraged to become hawkers and crane drivers. Some have been encouraged not to pursue a tertiary education.
I wonder who Lucas Film are recruiting if young Sinkies are not encouraged to do tertiary education or IT related staff but to be hawkers and carpenters. I am too used to call a carpenter a carpenter and still have difficulties calling them creative craftsmen. There may be a rebranding of our hawkers to something like Tropical Alfesco Chef. Sounds great right? Hope it will be attractive enough to lure our young into making hawking a career.
Following the Americans blindly into the shit hole
The USA is a great country by accident. It was discovered by incident
and became an Empire by incident. It is a country that fumbles along but
with the help of providence and an abundance of wealth built from the
blood of the native Red Indians and the sweat of the African slaves, and
China coolies, continues to grow and prosper. God is biased when one
knows how much cruelty and savagery the Americans have committed in the
past and in recent history and still doing everyday.
The USA benefitted from an open door policy, initially very selective and racist, and benefitted from the ablest people around the world. It is still having an open door policy today to welcome people across the world. But there is a big difference between and open door policy and an open leg policy of a small island city.
There is another big difference in what the Americans can do and get away with it and what we can’t get away with it. They have a continent as a country and a large European based majority to form the core of the population. Whatever core we think we have could easily become a minority or even be wiped out if we are silly enough. We are too small and too little in people to follow the Americans blindly in letting everyone in and thinking we have space for the whole wide world. The Americans can let in another 100m people with no strains on their system. Another 3m is enough to through our little island into a mess, suffocated and unable to move.
The other crazy thing we are following the Americans and thinking it is the right thing is their financial system, their stock market system, and all and sundries in derivatives and fraudulent products and allowing conmen, cheats and fraudsters to run their finance and banking industries. The fact that nearly every one of their big banks is in debts, and literally bankrupt if the books are not cooked, should send a chill down the spines of our leaders. No, they are so brave, wondering if brave is the right word, to imitate and follow the Americans blindly down to the road to financial destruction. We forgot we don’t have a printing machine to print fiat money at will, we don’t have a greenback that is the default currency of the world, and we don’t have a multi trillion economy to absorb the losses.
The American banking and finance system are fake, the greenback’s strength is fake, their corporate leaders are fake, the accounts of their big banks are fake in chalking up billions of easy profits. How could banks make that kind of money so easily is still puzzling , other than pure gambling and selling gambling chits in the forms of derivatives. They will wait for the next downturn to open their books and declare bankruptcy all over again and asking for govt handouts.
We are following the Americans in their ‘unlimited money’ defence policy, always buying the best and most expensive equipment for the military and thinking we are going to take on the Russians or the Chinese or another superpower, and to be the policemen of the world. The Americans have a lot of reserves to squander, and a self arrogated role as the Empire and policemen of the world. What are we and why are we behaving like the Americans and spending like the Americans? When we are broke, we are broke for good and to recover our losses would take a few generations.
We are also stupidly plunging ourselves into the same dangerous health and financial scams of the Americans, allowing health cost to run wild and trying to chase it with an equally wild health insurance scheme and ending like a dog chasing its tail. We knew long before that the American healthcare and insurance scams are not sustainable. We blindly allowed our healthcare and insurance systems to go down the American way. We will inherit and face the same problems as the Americans in an outrageously expensive healthcare system compounded by and equally scam health insurance scheme that benefit the health and insurance workers at the expense of the people, allowing the two industries to rob the people at will and with higher and higher cost.
We cannot be like the Americans. We don’t have the size and resources and the exceptionalism to loot, rape, kill, murder and squander without bringing the whole country and the people to bankruptcy.
Our exceptionalism in paying ‘out of this world’ salaries to immortals should pay back in kind with wisdoms to avoid the pitfalls of the Americans. The truth is that we are sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss by imitating the Americans without thinking. Our financial system and stock market are screwed, our health and insurance system are also screwed, our immigration policy is screwed doubly hard, and our defence spending is still having a party like money is never an issue. We can’t print money like the Americans and buying the most expensive toys available. We cannot practice exceptionalism like the Americans. We have no depth, no history and no resources to fall back on.
We are just a flash in history and could be history at the slightest turn of events.
Kopi level - Green
The USA benefitted from an open door policy, initially very selective and racist, and benefitted from the ablest people around the world. It is still having an open door policy today to welcome people across the world. But there is a big difference between and open door policy and an open leg policy of a small island city.
There is another big difference in what the Americans can do and get away with it and what we can’t get away with it. They have a continent as a country and a large European based majority to form the core of the population. Whatever core we think we have could easily become a minority or even be wiped out if we are silly enough. We are too small and too little in people to follow the Americans blindly in letting everyone in and thinking we have space for the whole wide world. The Americans can let in another 100m people with no strains on their system. Another 3m is enough to through our little island into a mess, suffocated and unable to move.
The other crazy thing we are following the Americans and thinking it is the right thing is their financial system, their stock market system, and all and sundries in derivatives and fraudulent products and allowing conmen, cheats and fraudsters to run their finance and banking industries. The fact that nearly every one of their big banks is in debts, and literally bankrupt if the books are not cooked, should send a chill down the spines of our leaders. No, they are so brave, wondering if brave is the right word, to imitate and follow the Americans blindly down to the road to financial destruction. We forgot we don’t have a printing machine to print fiat money at will, we don’t have a greenback that is the default currency of the world, and we don’t have a multi trillion economy to absorb the losses.
The American banking and finance system are fake, the greenback’s strength is fake, their corporate leaders are fake, the accounts of their big banks are fake in chalking up billions of easy profits. How could banks make that kind of money so easily is still puzzling , other than pure gambling and selling gambling chits in the forms of derivatives. They will wait for the next downturn to open their books and declare bankruptcy all over again and asking for govt handouts.
We are following the Americans in their ‘unlimited money’ defence policy, always buying the best and most expensive equipment for the military and thinking we are going to take on the Russians or the Chinese or another superpower, and to be the policemen of the world. The Americans have a lot of reserves to squander, and a self arrogated role as the Empire and policemen of the world. What are we and why are we behaving like the Americans and spending like the Americans? When we are broke, we are broke for good and to recover our losses would take a few generations.
We are also stupidly plunging ourselves into the same dangerous health and financial scams of the Americans, allowing health cost to run wild and trying to chase it with an equally wild health insurance scheme and ending like a dog chasing its tail. We knew long before that the American healthcare and insurance scams are not sustainable. We blindly allowed our healthcare and insurance systems to go down the American way. We will inherit and face the same problems as the Americans in an outrageously expensive healthcare system compounded by and equally scam health insurance scheme that benefit the health and insurance workers at the expense of the people, allowing the two industries to rob the people at will and with higher and higher cost.
We cannot be like the Americans. We don’t have the size and resources and the exceptionalism to loot, rape, kill, murder and squander without bringing the whole country and the people to bankruptcy.
Our exceptionalism in paying ‘out of this world’ salaries to immortals should pay back in kind with wisdoms to avoid the pitfalls of the Americans. The truth is that we are sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss by imitating the Americans without thinking. Our financial system and stock market are screwed, our health and insurance system are also screwed, our immigration policy is screwed doubly hard, and our defence spending is still having a party like money is never an issue. We can’t print money like the Americans and buying the most expensive toys available. We cannot practice exceptionalism like the Americans. We have no depth, no history and no resources to fall back on.
We are just a flash in history and could be history at the slightest turn of events.
Kopi level - Green
2/06/2014
So good to play with big money
Just fantasizing, if the $800m to be given to IMF can be given to the
pioneering generation, how much will each person be getting? Ok, not all
$800m, as the increase is from $50m to $800m, an additional $750m that
can be thrown at the pioneering generation is still quite some money.
If only 1,500 are deemed worthy, or lucky to be chosen, $750m means each can get $500K or half a million. If each is to be given $100K, then 7,500 will be lucky ones. Or if the sum is $10K, then 75,000 will get lucky.
Still not sure what are the criteria for the pioneering generation. The groups of seniors that suffered the most and paid the most for building this nation were the first few batches of NS men. They were there when the country needed them most to protect our sovereignty and security. It would be so unfair that they be left out and not regarded as the pioneers of this nation. And if 70 years is the cut of age, then most of the pioneering NS men would not even be considered.
Maybe must ask the people for feedback to set the criteria for pioneering generation. How about giving your feedback to Reach? Or is this another no need feedback matter?
What do you think? Many of the pioneering generation happened to be on the wrong side of the political divide, or the wrong political colour. And many of the chosen ones are likely to be so damn rich that they don’t need a single cent more to bring into their coffins. It would be too heavy to carry for sure. How ah?
If only 1,500 are deemed worthy, or lucky to be chosen, $750m means each can get $500K or half a million. If each is to be given $100K, then 7,500 will be lucky ones. Or if the sum is $10K, then 75,000 will get lucky.
Still not sure what are the criteria for the pioneering generation. The groups of seniors that suffered the most and paid the most for building this nation were the first few batches of NS men. They were there when the country needed them most to protect our sovereignty and security. It would be so unfair that they be left out and not regarded as the pioneers of this nation. And if 70 years is the cut of age, then most of the pioneering NS men would not even be considered.
Maybe must ask the people for feedback to set the criteria for pioneering generation. How about giving your feedback to Reach? Or is this another no need feedback matter?
What do you think? Many of the pioneering generation happened to be on the wrong side of the political divide, or the wrong political colour. And many of the chosen ones are likely to be so damn rich that they don’t need a single cent more to bring into their coffins. It would be too heavy to carry for sure. How ah?
Malaysia MP Teresa Kok receives threats
A video clip on political satire in Malaysia by MP Teresa Kok has gone viral and with the MP receiving threats for being anti Malay. She has also lodged a police report on the threats and asking the police to conduct a fair investigation on the accusation thrown at her and the threats.
In a country when the use of the term Allah by the Christians could lead to the threats of May 13 or killing of the minorities, the non Malays must be very careful in what they say or do. They should be extra sensitive to the feelings and OB areas that would raise more controversies and even threats of violence. A good reminder is the blanking off of pig’s faces in the media and the video of a stupid young couple about bak kut teh during the fasting month. Avoiding such controversies is not only good advice but good for their own well being despite the laws providing freedom of expression and religious practice.
The controversial video is attached below for all to view objectively and to form their own opinion if they so wanted on this matter, at least with an educated and proper knowledge of what it was in the first place. Just a caution, whatever opinions you have it is best to keep it to yourself and if you wish to express them, do not sensationalise it or be too provocative to invite undue reactions. Discuss it maturely and objectively in a calm manner. A lot of restraints are needed even if the issue is across the causeway.
Kopi level - Green
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=JtsRcId70bk&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJtsRcId70bk%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata_player
An arms race that the US cannot afford and cannot win
‘Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's chief weapons buyer, told lawmakers that
when it comes to "technological superiority, the Department of Defence
is being challenged in ways that I have not seen for decades,
particularly in the Asia-Pacific region."’ AFP
China is making big strides in areas of anti ship missiles, in new stealth fighters, hypersonic aircraft and other hi tech weaponry that the Americans are still guessing in the dark, and America could lose its pole position if it does not response effectively to the challenge. This kind of scenario is unthinkable a decade ago and a big joke 30 years ago. The Americans would laugh themselves silly to imagine a poor communist country aeons behind in technology, and very poor economically, could even build an aircraft or submarine let alone challenging American military superiority in the most technologically advanced weaponry.
What Kendall told the House Armed Services Committee is no longer a joke and is being taken very seriously. For a start, China’s A2AD or anti area access denial capabilities are a crippling blow to the American aircraft carrier groups. This would drastically deny their ability to strike at China’s mainland without posing an unacceptable risk of total annihilation of the fleet. The Americans could not longer strike China with impunity and the comfort of safety from being attack.
What is making matter worse is that going on a head on arms race with China is going bankrupt the American Treasury on three grounds. It has very little money left and has to rely heavily on printing more paper money and the consequences of such a reckless adventure are horrendous. The next point is that the cost of maintaining the PLA and all its weaponry is peanuts compare to what it would cost the Americans. It was claimed that the interest alone on the T Bills that the Americans are paying to the Chinese is enough to keep the whole PLA happy.
Then there is the incomparable cost of soldiers and machine. The cost of maintaining a GI could support 100 PLA soldiers, an American fighter plane costs 10 to 20 times more than a Chinese aircraft. Added on to this, to maintain the kind of overall superiority, for every piece of equipment or soldier the PLA has, the Americans need three pieces to keep a healthy balance and advantage.
In short, an arms race would simply bankrupt the Americans. The Americans cannot afford it. The Chinese only need a fleet or two to keep peace in the East and South China Seas. The Americans have to keep fleets in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
The high spending days of the Americans is over. The strategy of maintaining a superior military force world wide based on the most advanced and expensive weaponry is just untenable. The Chinese only need to keep building on what they have and the Americans need to build three times as many and 100 times more in cost.
How long can the Americans stay on to this course of military expansion and expenditure to maintain an offensive military strategy to be able to hit at any country?
Can the Americans afford it? China only needs a cheaper defensive strategy, to keep the enemies at away with no wild ambition to be the policeman or gangster of the world.
China is making big strides in areas of anti ship missiles, in new stealth fighters, hypersonic aircraft and other hi tech weaponry that the Americans are still guessing in the dark, and America could lose its pole position if it does not response effectively to the challenge. This kind of scenario is unthinkable a decade ago and a big joke 30 years ago. The Americans would laugh themselves silly to imagine a poor communist country aeons behind in technology, and very poor economically, could even build an aircraft or submarine let alone challenging American military superiority in the most technologically advanced weaponry.
What Kendall told the House Armed Services Committee is no longer a joke and is being taken very seriously. For a start, China’s A2AD or anti area access denial capabilities are a crippling blow to the American aircraft carrier groups. This would drastically deny their ability to strike at China’s mainland without posing an unacceptable risk of total annihilation of the fleet. The Americans could not longer strike China with impunity and the comfort of safety from being attack.
What is making matter worse is that going on a head on arms race with China is going bankrupt the American Treasury on three grounds. It has very little money left and has to rely heavily on printing more paper money and the consequences of such a reckless adventure are horrendous. The next point is that the cost of maintaining the PLA and all its weaponry is peanuts compare to what it would cost the Americans. It was claimed that the interest alone on the T Bills that the Americans are paying to the Chinese is enough to keep the whole PLA happy.
Then there is the incomparable cost of soldiers and machine. The cost of maintaining a GI could support 100 PLA soldiers, an American fighter plane costs 10 to 20 times more than a Chinese aircraft. Added on to this, to maintain the kind of overall superiority, for every piece of equipment or soldier the PLA has, the Americans need three pieces to keep a healthy balance and advantage.
In short, an arms race would simply bankrupt the Americans. The Americans cannot afford it. The Chinese only need a fleet or two to keep peace in the East and South China Seas. The Americans have to keep fleets in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
The high spending days of the Americans is over. The strategy of maintaining a superior military force world wide based on the most advanced and expensive weaponry is just untenable. The Chinese only need to keep building on what they have and the Americans need to build three times as many and 100 times more in cost.
How long can the Americans stay on to this course of military expansion and expenditure to maintain an offensive military strategy to be able to hit at any country?
Can the Americans afford it? China only needs a cheaper defensive strategy, to keep the enemies at away with no wild ambition to be the policeman or gangster of the world.
2/05/2014
More than just a co driver
My thread, ‘WP, to slap or not to slap the driver’ reposted in TRE is
getting more than 80 emotional comments. Some were angry, some
disappointed while some were sympathetic to the WP. Some were demanding
for more actions from WP to slap the driver real hard.
The main issues are the high expectations they have of the WP and its leadership role as the major opposition party. Many commented that they threw everything behind the WP for one simple reason, to take on the PAP. And they were not mincing their words when this was not seen to be done. As the main opposition party they want the WP to live up to their expectation as there is no other party to do the job in Parliament and out of Parliament. The WP is seen as the white knight, a potential alternative or party in waiting should PAP fall on the wayside.
There are also those who tried to understand the WP for not standing up and be more vociferous in their views on many things and events that were happening. The current position of the WP would cost them some votes for sure, not to the PAP but to other opposition parties that are seen to be doing the work, especially SDP.
An opposition party in the leadership role to lead the rest of the opposition parties, to coordinate and bring them together as an organized and serious political force, is left wanting. The WP is expected to play this role. For the WP to distance itself from it is disappointing. If not the WP who else? It is a responsibility that falls naturally on the most successful opposition party and not taking up the cudgel is seen as shirking from this responsibility.
The WP cannot go it alone if it is to be taken seriously to dislodge the stranglehold of the PAP. They need all the opposition parties, minus those that are questionable, to be on its side to present a united front for those who wanted PAP out. Absconding from doing so, alienating the other opposition parties and adopting a lone ranger small party attitude will do the WP no good. The people are demanding for real change, substantive change, for leadership, and the current strength of the WP is just not up to it to be respected or seen as a serious political force. Just sitting beside the driver as a co driver is not what the people want, not enough to satisfy the needs of the people.
WP must stand up and respond to this undefined role as the leader of the opposition and not hide within its shell. Take the lead is what the people expect of the WP.
Would the WP rise to the challenge or be content to be a little bridesmaid?
The main issues are the high expectations they have of the WP and its leadership role as the major opposition party. Many commented that they threw everything behind the WP for one simple reason, to take on the PAP. And they were not mincing their words when this was not seen to be done. As the main opposition party they want the WP to live up to their expectation as there is no other party to do the job in Parliament and out of Parliament. The WP is seen as the white knight, a potential alternative or party in waiting should PAP fall on the wayside.
There are also those who tried to understand the WP for not standing up and be more vociferous in their views on many things and events that were happening. The current position of the WP would cost them some votes for sure, not to the PAP but to other opposition parties that are seen to be doing the work, especially SDP.
An opposition party in the leadership role to lead the rest of the opposition parties, to coordinate and bring them together as an organized and serious political force, is left wanting. The WP is expected to play this role. For the WP to distance itself from it is disappointing. If not the WP who else? It is a responsibility that falls naturally on the most successful opposition party and not taking up the cudgel is seen as shirking from this responsibility.
The WP cannot go it alone if it is to be taken seriously to dislodge the stranglehold of the PAP. They need all the opposition parties, minus those that are questionable, to be on its side to present a united front for those who wanted PAP out. Absconding from doing so, alienating the other opposition parties and adopting a lone ranger small party attitude will do the WP no good. The people are demanding for real change, substantive change, for leadership, and the current strength of the WP is just not up to it to be respected or seen as a serious political force. Just sitting beside the driver as a co driver is not what the people want, not enough to satisfy the needs of the people.
WP must stand up and respond to this undefined role as the leader of the opposition and not hide within its shell. Take the lead is what the people expect of the WP.
Would the WP rise to the challenge or be content to be a little bridesmaid?
Singapore Maths in Latin America
A few years back we heard that our Maths teaching syllabus for primary
schools were so good that some American schools have started to adopt it
into their systems and were very happy with the results. Today it is
reported that Latin American schools are also happily adopting our Maths
syllabus in their schools in Chile, Columbia and Panama.
Are these countries so out of touch with the real world? At the rate things are going, Singapore will be adopting Indian School syllabus to replace our syllabus. The Indians are producing many bright finance professionals to head big MNC banks and even Singapore banks. Their engineers and IT professionals are also in demand in the West and also in Singapore. This must have a lot to do with the way they are teaching their Maths.
Knowing that Singapore will always rush to whichever country that is producing good results, the way the Indians are teaching their Maths must soon be receiving serious attentions. Somehow our syllabi are not producing the kind of results that we want and many of our graduates are not good enough for anything except to drive taxis. The Sinkies are even discouraged to pursue tertiary education and to spend their energy in highly lucrative professions like hawkers and crane drivers. No university degrees needed.
As change and changing teaching methodology and syllabus are the new constants in Singapore, do not be alarmed if someone would suggest switching to Indian Maths. Some academic has already sang great praises on India’s low cost engineering. This may be introduced sooner in the university than Indian Maths to our schools.
Singapore is progressing rapidly from 1st World to Out of this World. Today India is in vogue and Indians are in great demand in Singapore. India used to mesmerize the Europeans with its mystics. Today is it mesmerizing Singapore in everything. Singapore is investing in very big ways in India and it will be no surprise if Singapore becomes the Number One foreign investor in India. And there is the CECA as testimony to the great admiration we have for the quality of India’s graduates and professionals.
Are these countries so out of touch with the real world? At the rate things are going, Singapore will be adopting Indian School syllabus to replace our syllabus. The Indians are producing many bright finance professionals to head big MNC banks and even Singapore banks. Their engineers and IT professionals are also in demand in the West and also in Singapore. This must have a lot to do with the way they are teaching their Maths.
Knowing that Singapore will always rush to whichever country that is producing good results, the way the Indians are teaching their Maths must soon be receiving serious attentions. Somehow our syllabi are not producing the kind of results that we want and many of our graduates are not good enough for anything except to drive taxis. The Sinkies are even discouraged to pursue tertiary education and to spend their energy in highly lucrative professions like hawkers and crane drivers. No university degrees needed.
As change and changing teaching methodology and syllabus are the new constants in Singapore, do not be alarmed if someone would suggest switching to Indian Maths. Some academic has already sang great praises on India’s low cost engineering. This may be introduced sooner in the university than Indian Maths to our schools.
Singapore is progressing rapidly from 1st World to Out of this World. Today India is in vogue and Indians are in great demand in Singapore. India used to mesmerize the Europeans with its mystics. Today is it mesmerizing Singapore in everything. Singapore is investing in very big ways in India and it will be no surprise if Singapore becomes the Number One foreign investor in India. And there is the CECA as testimony to the great admiration we have for the quality of India’s graduates and professionals.
Medishield Life – Promoting a new product
Today’s media is all about the highly expected new product, a medical
Ferrari of sort, that the govt is adamant to sell to the whole
population by compulsion. Like any new launch, we are hearing only the
good news from the snippets being aired. The people have nothing to
worry about. It will be very affordable, premiums will be no more than
the current Medisave contributions. This looks like another ‘gum gum ho’
package vis a vis what you have in your Medisave Account. The caveat,
premiums could go up at an opportune time. Heheheh. Think the formula
for home/car buying, low upfront payment and pay and pay after that with
interest going up at an opportune time.
There might be some freebies thrown out to attract the buyers and make the deals sweeter. There is a Pioneer Generation Package for those, probably 70 and above, and paid by the govt for life. This is no gimmicks, it will not be a one time payment or discount and then pay and pay like utilities bills and conservancy charges. Be very grateful for the kind mercy.
For those who are just below the 70 cut off point, be prepared to pay what the pioneering generation need not pay, for the rest of your life unless there is a new mercy, that premiums for the oldies will be frozen at a fixed rate or the govt will cough up more funding to subsidise the ‘very affordable’ premiums when one is 80, 90 or 100.
Assoc Professor Phua Kai Hong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy said, ‘Can we trust insurance to contain future healthcare cost increases without stronger govt regulation on the supply side?’
There are a few things that the people must be worried about, the profits of insurance companies, the unstoppable escalating medical cost that would lead to higher premiums to ensure profitability to of the insurers. The fact that insurers are still in the equation is something that must be of great concern. There is no reason why the govt cannot self insure this scheme if private insurers can do so. What is the catch that the govt will not want to take on this role? A compulsory scheme has removed all the other untidy and unnecessary issues of marketing and taking care of a big sales force. It is purely an administrative job.
The merits of self insuring are obvious. Cut down the cost of middlemen, cut down the profit motive, and any surpluses form the previous years can be ploughed back to lower the premiums of the insured. No need super talents to know such simple stuff.
The other big unknown is the runaway medical cost if not curbed by the strong arms of the govt. The cost in govt hospitals must be regulated to prevent any smart alec from raising fees to raise their bonuses or to subsidise their pet projects. There are also issues of over consumption like all schemes that are covered by insurance.
To take the logic of pioneering generation and the idea of ‘yin shui si yuan’ or when we drink from the well, we will remember the source, the oldies that needed medical care are not confined only to the pioneering generation. Every generation will get old and older and the state must play a big role in their welfare. It is better to set aside money to look after the oldies that have done their parts in contributing to the nation than to give the money away freely to foreigners and foreign organizations to show off that we are rich and can afford to splash hard cash everywhere.
The real stuff and maybe pain will come after the initial euphoria in a new launch. What will be added on when everyone is sucked into and stuck in an inescapable scheme? It is a flawless proposition, like the 6.9m population. Everyone shall welcome it with open arms and can sleep soundly after that. There is no downside but only goodness.
Kopi level - Green
There might be some freebies thrown out to attract the buyers and make the deals sweeter. There is a Pioneer Generation Package for those, probably 70 and above, and paid by the govt for life. This is no gimmicks, it will not be a one time payment or discount and then pay and pay like utilities bills and conservancy charges. Be very grateful for the kind mercy.
For those who are just below the 70 cut off point, be prepared to pay what the pioneering generation need not pay, for the rest of your life unless there is a new mercy, that premiums for the oldies will be frozen at a fixed rate or the govt will cough up more funding to subsidise the ‘very affordable’ premiums when one is 80, 90 or 100.
Assoc Professor Phua Kai Hong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy said, ‘Can we trust insurance to contain future healthcare cost increases without stronger govt regulation on the supply side?’
There are a few things that the people must be worried about, the profits of insurance companies, the unstoppable escalating medical cost that would lead to higher premiums to ensure profitability to of the insurers. The fact that insurers are still in the equation is something that must be of great concern. There is no reason why the govt cannot self insure this scheme if private insurers can do so. What is the catch that the govt will not want to take on this role? A compulsory scheme has removed all the other untidy and unnecessary issues of marketing and taking care of a big sales force. It is purely an administrative job.
The merits of self insuring are obvious. Cut down the cost of middlemen, cut down the profit motive, and any surpluses form the previous years can be ploughed back to lower the premiums of the insured. No need super talents to know such simple stuff.
The other big unknown is the runaway medical cost if not curbed by the strong arms of the govt. The cost in govt hospitals must be regulated to prevent any smart alec from raising fees to raise their bonuses or to subsidise their pet projects. There are also issues of over consumption like all schemes that are covered by insurance.
To take the logic of pioneering generation and the idea of ‘yin shui si yuan’ or when we drink from the well, we will remember the source, the oldies that needed medical care are not confined only to the pioneering generation. Every generation will get old and older and the state must play a big role in their welfare. It is better to set aside money to look after the oldies that have done their parts in contributing to the nation than to give the money away freely to foreigners and foreign organizations to show off that we are rich and can afford to splash hard cash everywhere.
The real stuff and maybe pain will come after the initial euphoria in a new launch. What will be added on when everyone is sucked into and stuck in an inescapable scheme? It is a flawless proposition, like the 6.9m population. Everyone shall welcome it with open arms and can sleep soundly after that. There is no downside but only goodness.
Kopi level - Green
2/04/2014
The anger against foreigners mounting.
You would not read these in the main media. Below are some comments in a
thread, ‘Singaporeans have every right to defend themselves’ in the
TRE. The number of foreigners here has gone past the threshold of
tolerance. And their behavior, discrimination and disgust against
Sinkies added to the anger of Sinkies that have fallen victims to them.
It is so ridiculous that a developed country, so called 1st World City
and citizens, well educated and rich, some even think Sinkies are smart,
would be despised and bullied by the very foreigners that they allowed
to work in their homeland. And nothing can be done while the daft
Sinkies are literally being edged out of their country, in jobs and in
homes and in public and private space. How can Sinkies be smart if they
can be so easily cheated by fakes from the 3rd World? Better still, no
one knows how to deal with this sickness.
The anger is building up everyday while on the surface you don’t really see it or read about it in the main media. You only read the good stuff of bringing in more foreigners in the main media. The Anton Casey case just blew the top and allowed the citizens to express their deep seated frustration that had been walled up for years. And would the govt still be asking why the Sinkies are so angry? Never mind, there is no need for the govt to know. The govt does not even have to do anything. The game will be over in 2 years time if the sentiment is real. You cannot keep pressing down the lid and think that it is not there. It will blow up at the right time if the pressure is not released, if the source of the anger is not removed.
So far there is no sign that this is happening despite the Sinkies kpkbing in social media. Many would like to pooh pooh it off as nothing but a few vocal minorities drumming for attention. How real is this will be shown in the next GE for sure. In the meantime, all is quiet in the western front. No one in the establishment would want to talk about it or face it squarely and do something substantive to defuse it.
In Thailand, the anti govt protesters are not respecting the vote of the majority. Would the govt respect the right of the majority here against the influx of foreigners into the country, to steal their jobs and to discriminate and despise the citizens? The daft Sinkies are rebelling to tell the govt that they don’t agree with its reasoning to bring in more and more foreigners. The govt is standing firm and not giving an inch in its design to flood the island with more foreigners.
So?
Here are a few of the snippets for a feel of the temperature.
Shut up:
February 3, 2014 at 7:45 am (Quote)
The anger against foreigners mounting.In the part when there are much fewer foreigners, you will never encounter a situation in which a foreigner would even dare to speak up against a singaporean.
Now when they have enough of their people around especially when they all choose to live in one area, it has embolden them.
You can go an blame these foreigners and you should but who created this in the first place? Who opened the flood gates and allow these foreigners in? Allow them in at such a great rate and embolden them?
I always say focus your energy at the primary source of the problem.
Its none other than PAP. We must rid PAP first and then these foreigners will get the message and we will see alot less of such incidents in the future. We must do this for our fellow singaporeans and future generations.
• Singaporeans must say NO:
February 2, 2014 at 2:31 pm (Quote)
Singaporeans can and must say NO. NO to PAP’s policies of discriminating against its own citizens. NO to foreigners bullying us, we must speak out for each other whenever and wherever a Singaporean is bullied. NO to more FTs coming in to dilute our Singaporean identity.
It is TIME FOR SINGAPOREANS TO SUPPORT SINGAPOREANS. Since the PAP government cannot and will not be a good government, we need to change the government.
• Pink Panty Loong - "The Great S'pore Curse - Wussy Doormat LEEderSHIT!":
February 2, 2014 at 3:09 pm (Quote)
These foreign trash twisted mindset and bad attitudes are totally encouraged and emboldened by our very own traitorous PAP government! The PAP government openly and blatantly pit the foreign trash against Singaporeans so that we will be coerced into accepting and integrating with them instead of the other way round! Where else can you find a government that embraced and empowered the foreigners to alienate their own citizens? Vote the PAP out to stop their treasonous acts and take back our Singapore! Singapore belongs to Singaporeans! Not the PAP nor their 3rd world foreign shits!
• bill man:
February 2, 2014 at 4:01 pm (Quote)
There are many cases of Singaporeans being discriminated/ bullied in their work environment that are not reported as well. I happened to know of a few. Please contribute if you know of others:
1. some European banks have deliberately redesigned job spec so that local managers will forsake being managers and continue to stay as RMs. This is exactly what the banks want…to bring in more expats to manage the locals. These new expats do not need local cultural knowledge, no contacts and all they need to do is push our locals for sales numbers. Mind you, they are well paid too.
2. some expats treasure their good life here so they will never want to make decision or take buss risk, just refer the locals to policy manuals is how they manage. This frustrates the locals and after a while,they become vocal about it. Head offices replace them and as recent as two months ago, i heard that one of them landed with job with other European bank. This is happening so often. These are the jobs that we locals can handle and yet our upward mobility is being blocked
3 certain banks with senior management from a certain country are slowly getting rid of locals so that their country men can take over. A case reported in the blob was brought to the authorities’ attn, ha, nothing was done. Just look at some of the dealing rooms.
4. some expats do not want to leave Singapore after they were terminated due to the 2008 fina crisis set up exe search firms. They hunt for and place other expats, their friends, with other banks, the HR depts there are also headed by expats. They colluded and excuses are given that they cannot find locals to fill the job.
5 Anton stays in Sentosa, majority of Singaporeans in HDB. Why? Locals are made to work to support these over paid and under work expats. from 5 pm onwards, you can see them are the pubs in MBFC and at nite at Clarke Quay with their local toys. At 10pm, you can see the poor locals getting out of MRT exhausted heading home in their HDB flat.
What is Singapore becoming? Why is the Govt willing to anger the locals and still protecting the FT population? We must make it a point to remember this FT policy makers’ names so that they go down in history of our country as those that made us and our future generations 2nd class citizens to the FTs. For those who just follow orders, consciously or unconsciously, to approve new citizenship or PR or Employment pass, hope that one day your conscience will hit you or your bad karma will. This can happen when your own children are being marginalized.
These are comments in another thread, Foreigners – treat them as ‘you want to be treated’
• blueview:
January 27, 2014 at 4:11 am (Quote)
Ng Eng Hen,
The next generation of Singaporeans are going to have “coolie” status based on what PAP has been preaching to Singaporeans. PAP are discouraging Singaporeans from pursuing education and encouraging us to take up mostly low level jobs. In a few years time, the FTs holding high level & high paying jobs will be lords, kings and queens. This is already happening and we have seen several incidents besides Anton’s.
I am in no way degrading the low level jobs. Since Singapore is such a small country, each & every type of job both low level and high level should be for true blue Singaporeans first. Foreigners should come last.
PAP obviously does not know what the word “BIRTHRIGHT” means. There will always be Singaporeans who want to be taxi drivers or cleaners or bus drivers or crane operators BUT why does PAP have to impose these jobs on us? Do we hear PAP encouraging us to take on wealth manager job at some swanky boutique wealth mgt company? Did PAP look for Singaporeans to be CEOs of DBS and Singapore Post? Are there NO & I mean not even a single qualified Singaporean to take on these positions?
• COE For Foreign Talents:
January 27, 2014 at 6:50 am (Quote)
There are too many foreigners here. Raffles Place and Marina Bay are full of them so much so that they now outnumber local Singaporeans working there. Yes obviously they took away the cushy highly paid office desk jobs in air-con comfort from Singaporean PMETs. Like all such congestion, we can control them well through financial levy. One of these is the Certificate Of Entitlement (COE). Should there be a COE system for employment passes/S-passes. It will be easier to implement since there are only two categories. And we can regulated the flow of FTs. These COE should be valid for 2 years, to generate turnover and will reap in no less than the current COE system for vehicles. So we will have money to build more hospitals, MRTs, buses, schools, foodcourts, shopping malls, roads, etc to cater to higher number. Who know perhaps we can provide social welfare after that as they told us they have no money for social welfare. Let do this. What do you think?
The anger is building up everyday while on the surface you don’t really see it or read about it in the main media. You only read the good stuff of bringing in more foreigners in the main media. The Anton Casey case just blew the top and allowed the citizens to express their deep seated frustration that had been walled up for years. And would the govt still be asking why the Sinkies are so angry? Never mind, there is no need for the govt to know. The govt does not even have to do anything. The game will be over in 2 years time if the sentiment is real. You cannot keep pressing down the lid and think that it is not there. It will blow up at the right time if the pressure is not released, if the source of the anger is not removed.
So far there is no sign that this is happening despite the Sinkies kpkbing in social media. Many would like to pooh pooh it off as nothing but a few vocal minorities drumming for attention. How real is this will be shown in the next GE for sure. In the meantime, all is quiet in the western front. No one in the establishment would want to talk about it or face it squarely and do something substantive to defuse it.
In Thailand, the anti govt protesters are not respecting the vote of the majority. Would the govt respect the right of the majority here against the influx of foreigners into the country, to steal their jobs and to discriminate and despise the citizens? The daft Sinkies are rebelling to tell the govt that they don’t agree with its reasoning to bring in more and more foreigners. The govt is standing firm and not giving an inch in its design to flood the island with more foreigners.
So?
Here are a few of the snippets for a feel of the temperature.
Shut up:
February 3, 2014 at 7:45 am (Quote)
The anger against foreigners mounting.In the part when there are much fewer foreigners, you will never encounter a situation in which a foreigner would even dare to speak up against a singaporean.
Now when they have enough of their people around especially when they all choose to live in one area, it has embolden them.
You can go an blame these foreigners and you should but who created this in the first place? Who opened the flood gates and allow these foreigners in? Allow them in at such a great rate and embolden them?
I always say focus your energy at the primary source of the problem.
Its none other than PAP. We must rid PAP first and then these foreigners will get the message and we will see alot less of such incidents in the future. We must do this for our fellow singaporeans and future generations.
• Singaporeans must say NO:
February 2, 2014 at 2:31 pm (Quote)
Singaporeans can and must say NO. NO to PAP’s policies of discriminating against its own citizens. NO to foreigners bullying us, we must speak out for each other whenever and wherever a Singaporean is bullied. NO to more FTs coming in to dilute our Singaporean identity.
It is TIME FOR SINGAPOREANS TO SUPPORT SINGAPOREANS. Since the PAP government cannot and will not be a good government, we need to change the government.
• Pink Panty Loong - "The Great S'pore Curse - Wussy Doormat LEEderSHIT!":
February 2, 2014 at 3:09 pm (Quote)
These foreign trash twisted mindset and bad attitudes are totally encouraged and emboldened by our very own traitorous PAP government! The PAP government openly and blatantly pit the foreign trash against Singaporeans so that we will be coerced into accepting and integrating with them instead of the other way round! Where else can you find a government that embraced and empowered the foreigners to alienate their own citizens? Vote the PAP out to stop their treasonous acts and take back our Singapore! Singapore belongs to Singaporeans! Not the PAP nor their 3rd world foreign shits!
• bill man:
February 2, 2014 at 4:01 pm (Quote)
There are many cases of Singaporeans being discriminated/ bullied in their work environment that are not reported as well. I happened to know of a few. Please contribute if you know of others:
1. some European banks have deliberately redesigned job spec so that local managers will forsake being managers and continue to stay as RMs. This is exactly what the banks want…to bring in more expats to manage the locals. These new expats do not need local cultural knowledge, no contacts and all they need to do is push our locals for sales numbers. Mind you, they are well paid too.
2. some expats treasure their good life here so they will never want to make decision or take buss risk, just refer the locals to policy manuals is how they manage. This frustrates the locals and after a while,they become vocal about it. Head offices replace them and as recent as two months ago, i heard that one of them landed with job with other European bank. This is happening so often. These are the jobs that we locals can handle and yet our upward mobility is being blocked
3 certain banks with senior management from a certain country are slowly getting rid of locals so that their country men can take over. A case reported in the blob was brought to the authorities’ attn, ha, nothing was done. Just look at some of the dealing rooms.
4. some expats do not want to leave Singapore after they were terminated due to the 2008 fina crisis set up exe search firms. They hunt for and place other expats, their friends, with other banks, the HR depts there are also headed by expats. They colluded and excuses are given that they cannot find locals to fill the job.
5 Anton stays in Sentosa, majority of Singaporeans in HDB. Why? Locals are made to work to support these over paid and under work expats. from 5 pm onwards, you can see them are the pubs in MBFC and at nite at Clarke Quay with their local toys. At 10pm, you can see the poor locals getting out of MRT exhausted heading home in their HDB flat.
What is Singapore becoming? Why is the Govt willing to anger the locals and still protecting the FT population? We must make it a point to remember this FT policy makers’ names so that they go down in history of our country as those that made us and our future generations 2nd class citizens to the FTs. For those who just follow orders, consciously or unconsciously, to approve new citizenship or PR or Employment pass, hope that one day your conscience will hit you or your bad karma will. This can happen when your own children are being marginalized.
These are comments in another thread, Foreigners – treat them as ‘you want to be treated’
• blueview:
January 27, 2014 at 4:11 am (Quote)
Ng Eng Hen,
The next generation of Singaporeans are going to have “coolie” status based on what PAP has been preaching to Singaporeans. PAP are discouraging Singaporeans from pursuing education and encouraging us to take up mostly low level jobs. In a few years time, the FTs holding high level & high paying jobs will be lords, kings and queens. This is already happening and we have seen several incidents besides Anton’s.
I am in no way degrading the low level jobs. Since Singapore is such a small country, each & every type of job both low level and high level should be for true blue Singaporeans first. Foreigners should come last.
PAP obviously does not know what the word “BIRTHRIGHT” means. There will always be Singaporeans who want to be taxi drivers or cleaners or bus drivers or crane operators BUT why does PAP have to impose these jobs on us? Do we hear PAP encouraging us to take on wealth manager job at some swanky boutique wealth mgt company? Did PAP look for Singaporeans to be CEOs of DBS and Singapore Post? Are there NO & I mean not even a single qualified Singaporean to take on these positions?
• COE For Foreign Talents:
January 27, 2014 at 6:50 am (Quote)
There are too many foreigners here. Raffles Place and Marina Bay are full of them so much so that they now outnumber local Singaporeans working there. Yes obviously they took away the cushy highly paid office desk jobs in air-con comfort from Singaporean PMETs. Like all such congestion, we can control them well through financial levy. One of these is the Certificate Of Entitlement (COE). Should there be a COE system for employment passes/S-passes. It will be easier to implement since there are only two categories. And we can regulated the flow of FTs. These COE should be valid for 2 years, to generate turnover and will reap in no less than the current COE system for vehicles. So we will have money to build more hospitals, MRTs, buses, schools, foodcourts, shopping malls, roads, etc to cater to higher number. Who know perhaps we can provide social welfare after that as they told us they have no money for social welfare. Let do this. What do you think?
MOE thinking frugal
Front page news in the ST, ‘Funding cuts of top independent schools in
Spore’. The MOE is cutting funds to the top 6 independent schools and on
top of that it is telling them to moderate fund raising activities for
campus upgrading. The schools have been told to switch classroom
ventilation from air conditioners to fans.
This is definitely a costing cutting measure. The question is why? Not enough funds or curbing on excessive expenditure on perks and luxuries? Many parents see this as a good move, to stop schools from going wild with money and what money can buy for comfort and the non essentials.
While the MOE is cutting such funding, presumably to curb waste, hopefully the savings would not be diverted to provide more scholarships and assistance to foreign students here. And hopefully there will also be substantive cuts on funding for foreign students and divert the money saved to assist the children of citizens. I said children of citizens, not children of locals. Must make this doubly clear.
So, what’s up MOE?
PS. I must acknowledge that we have the finest and most modern infrastructure for our schools. Not very sure about the software, which so far has proven to be quite shitty as we are producing duds that cannot compete with 3rd World talents who comfortably came here to replace our local talents from our education system in top jobs. What kind of shit is happening? Don’t ask me for answers.
Kopi level - Yellow
This is definitely a costing cutting measure. The question is why? Not enough funds or curbing on excessive expenditure on perks and luxuries? Many parents see this as a good move, to stop schools from going wild with money and what money can buy for comfort and the non essentials.
While the MOE is cutting such funding, presumably to curb waste, hopefully the savings would not be diverted to provide more scholarships and assistance to foreign students here. And hopefully there will also be substantive cuts on funding for foreign students and divert the money saved to assist the children of citizens. I said children of citizens, not children of locals. Must make this doubly clear.
So, what’s up MOE?
PS. I must acknowledge that we have the finest and most modern infrastructure for our schools. Not very sure about the software, which so far has proven to be quite shitty as we are producing duds that cannot compete with 3rd World talents who comfortably came here to replace our local talents from our education system in top jobs. What kind of shit is happening? Don’t ask me for answers.
Kopi level - Yellow
Is CPF taking advantage of senior citizens?
I am a senior citizen. By right I should be getting all my CPF savings
when I reached 55. But they changed the rules and created a Retirement
Account and forcibly transferred some of my savings into this Account. I
am angry but kept quiet since there is nothing I can do. They wrote the
laws and approved whatever laws they decided. Dunno which turkey
decided on this. So far no one dares to admit it. Was it discussed and
approve in Parliament?
Now they created another account called Medisave Minimum Sum Account. And they forcibly transferred some of my savings into this account. Very unhappy but cannot do anything. The people elected them so they think they can do anything they want.
Now I am getting angrier. If my savings are kept in the Retirement Account, I shall be getting 4% interest rate. I just found out that my savings in the Medisave Minimum Sum only get 2.5% interest. Correct me if I am wrong, but this is in my CPF statement.
Why am I being paid of 1.5% of interest lesser? The CPF suka suka changed the rules and suka suka fixed the interest rates. What, senior citizens all ‘boh tak cheh’ and you can do anything you want ya?
Tell me if this is fair? Letting you keep my savings for as long as you want is already damn ‘pek chek’. Now you created new accounts and pay me lesser interest. You want to bully senior citizens is it?
All my plans to be emperor in Batam or Lijiang got screwed because you refused to return my savings as contracted when I became a member more than 40 years ago. Do I have the right be angry?
Kopi level - Yellow
PS:
Now they created another account called Medisave Minimum Sum Account. And they forcibly transferred some of my savings into this account. Very unhappy but cannot do anything. The people elected them so they think they can do anything they want.
Now I am getting angrier. If my savings are kept in the Retirement Account, I shall be getting 4% interest rate. I just found out that my savings in the Medisave Minimum Sum only get 2.5% interest. Correct me if I am wrong, but this is in my CPF statement.
Why am I being paid of 1.5% of interest lesser? The CPF suka suka changed the rules and suka suka fixed the interest rates. What, senior citizens all ‘boh tak cheh’ and you can do anything you want ya?
Tell me if this is fair? Letting you keep my savings for as long as you want is already damn ‘pek chek’. Now you created new accounts and pay me lesser interest. You want to bully senior citizens is it?
All my plans to be emperor in Batam or Lijiang got screwed because you refused to return my savings as contracted when I became a member more than 40 years ago. Do I have the right be angry?
Kopi level - Yellow
PS:
2/03/2014
Baey Yam Keng - a startling revelation
Was it a Freudian slip or was it a well crafted revelation to serve a
specific agenda, this was what Baey said at the Young Guns forum on 29
Jan 14. ‘I am 100 per cent sure that not everyone is a PAP member. I’m
very sure there are people who voted for opposition. And you have to
take my word for that because I know more than you on CCC.
What a revelation! What was the intent and purpose for saying this? Was Baey trying to say he is very well informed, or was he bragging that he knows a lot of things? Or was it just a slip of the moment that he got carried away and said something he shouldn’t be saying?
Did Baey revealed anything? How was he to know that CCC members voted for the opposition? The vote is a secret right? I think I know the answer. The CCC members who voted for the opposition told him personally. Or maybe the CCC members told other CCC members and they told Baey. It must be like that. There is no other official means to know who voted for the opposition, unless there are things that I dunno as a layman. Layman does not know many things, they are simple minded people and will take everything at face value. Tiok boh?
What a revelation! What was the intent and purpose for saying this? Was Baey trying to say he is very well informed, or was he bragging that he knows a lot of things? Or was it just a slip of the moment that he got carried away and said something he shouldn’t be saying?
Did Baey revealed anything? How was he to know that CCC members voted for the opposition? The vote is a secret right? I think I know the answer. The CCC members who voted for the opposition told him personally. Or maybe the CCC members told other CCC members and they told Baey. It must be like that. There is no other official means to know who voted for the opposition, unless there are things that I dunno as a layman. Layman does not know many things, they are simple minded people and will take everything at face value. Tiok boh?
Japan is up to mischief again
After being defeated in WW2 and suffering from two Atomic bombs for its
aggressive invasion of its neighbours and trying to conquer and rule
South East Asia, Japan has not learnt its lessons on wars. It is
stirring up tension and trying to create misgivings among the countries
in the region with misinformation. In its latest attempt it falsely
reported that China was trying to introduce another ADIZ in the South
China Sea. By saying so, it is sowing discord between China and the
South East Asian neighbours.
What the Japanese are doing today is more dangerous than in the Second World War. Then it was more or less fighting the war alone after dividing the world and areas of control with the Nazis in Germany. It was ambitious enough to want to rule the whole of East Asia and South East Asia. Today it is joining forces with the Americans in its renewed attempt to be the top regional power of the region. And in this announcement the Americans are happily joining in to warn China of declaring an ADIZ in the region. The arrogant Americans take pleasure to warn every country they so choose as their right as the evil Empire. The Americans knew that it was a lie fabricated by the Japanese but jumped on it as an excuse to threaten China. An upmanship to tell the world it can still do so to any country and with the implied threat of a military attack.
China is not going to accept being bullied by the Americans any more. It could use the opportunity to defy the Americans and impose an ADIZ and see what the Americans are going to do about it. However, China has a bigger interest in forging a closer relation with the South East Asian countries and would not want to make such a move to give the Japanese and the Americans an advantage in crying wolf.
The East China Sea ADIZ is a necessary move as Japan and the Americans posed an immediate danger to China’s security and a threat of an air strike. Japan also has an ADIZ stretching to the Chinese coast. It was thus a tit for tat move directed against the Japanese. The South East Asian countries do not pose any threat to China except a few irritations from the Philippines and Vietnam. Both can easily be dealt with by a cane. And both would behave without the American gangsters provoking them from behind.
Japan is raring its hostile intent all over again and is reckless, without a care on the consequences of inciting a war with China. They have no regards to how destructive a war today would be, with Japan’s major cities flatten and gone up in smokes should it escalate into a nuclear war. This is how preposterous and crazy the Japanese are in the pursuit of their wild imperialist ambition, to be the Number One military power in the region.
Japan is willing to risk the total annihilation of its country and people. The right wing militant group is simply mad to think that war with China is an option, a tea party.
China rightfully replied sternly that it would “‘respond effectively to any provocation’ that risked disrupting order in East Asia.” China must make it very clear that it would go to war with Japan and the Americans if provoked in order to keep them away from adventurism. The two gangsters are very trigger happy and the use of military force to advance their national goals is in their blood.
The countries of the world, particularly in South East Asia, should not be a party to this madness. They only have to lose, to be dragged into a very destructive war, and nothing to gain from an open military conflict.
The wild military ambition of the mad Japanese must be stopped in its path now. America must be told off to stop agitating and inciting war in the region.
What the Japanese are doing today is more dangerous than in the Second World War. Then it was more or less fighting the war alone after dividing the world and areas of control with the Nazis in Germany. It was ambitious enough to want to rule the whole of East Asia and South East Asia. Today it is joining forces with the Americans in its renewed attempt to be the top regional power of the region. And in this announcement the Americans are happily joining in to warn China of declaring an ADIZ in the region. The arrogant Americans take pleasure to warn every country they so choose as their right as the evil Empire. The Americans knew that it was a lie fabricated by the Japanese but jumped on it as an excuse to threaten China. An upmanship to tell the world it can still do so to any country and with the implied threat of a military attack.
China is not going to accept being bullied by the Americans any more. It could use the opportunity to defy the Americans and impose an ADIZ and see what the Americans are going to do about it. However, China has a bigger interest in forging a closer relation with the South East Asian countries and would not want to make such a move to give the Japanese and the Americans an advantage in crying wolf.
The East China Sea ADIZ is a necessary move as Japan and the Americans posed an immediate danger to China’s security and a threat of an air strike. Japan also has an ADIZ stretching to the Chinese coast. It was thus a tit for tat move directed against the Japanese. The South East Asian countries do not pose any threat to China except a few irritations from the Philippines and Vietnam. Both can easily be dealt with by a cane. And both would behave without the American gangsters provoking them from behind.
Japan is raring its hostile intent all over again and is reckless, without a care on the consequences of inciting a war with China. They have no regards to how destructive a war today would be, with Japan’s major cities flatten and gone up in smokes should it escalate into a nuclear war. This is how preposterous and crazy the Japanese are in the pursuit of their wild imperialist ambition, to be the Number One military power in the region.
Japan is willing to risk the total annihilation of its country and people. The right wing militant group is simply mad to think that war with China is an option, a tea party.
China rightfully replied sternly that it would “‘respond effectively to any provocation’ that risked disrupting order in East Asia.” China must make it very clear that it would go to war with Japan and the Americans if provoked in order to keep them away from adventurism. The two gangsters are very trigger happy and the use of military force to advance their national goals is in their blood.
The countries of the world, particularly in South East Asia, should not be a party to this madness. They only have to lose, to be dragged into a very destructive war, and nothing to gain from an open military conflict.
The wild military ambition of the mad Japanese must be stopped in its path now. America must be told off to stop agitating and inciting war in the region.
Low cost engineering the way to go
We need more top academics to endorse the virtues of low cost engineering to restructure our universities and economic strategies for growth. Recently there was a professor from NTU making very positive views on the superiority of India in low cost engineering. And reading between the lines, NTU may be considering introducing low cost engineering courses to produce engineers that are experts in this area.
With Singapore unable or finding it challenging to compete in anything of substance and quality, low cost engineering may be the way to go. We could tap into India’s low cost labour and production methods in low cost engineering to produce goods that can be marketed with a price advantage. The Tata Nano is an excellent car for our market given the smallness in size. There is really no need for super cars with super price tags as they would run out of roads by the time they squeezed into third gear. A cheap Nano is exactly what we need for a small city and buzzing from the HDB flats to the market or neighbourhood shops.
A Nano cost only US$8K. With the high COE prices, a Nano could still be priced below $90K. Quality should not be an issue. The reports by BBC that ‘Five of India's most popular small cars have failed crash tests conducted by a UK-based car safety watchdog’ should be no cost for alarm. The cars tested included models made in India by Ford, Volkswagen and Hyundai. For the price you can’t be expecting German quality right?
The cars could only be made cheaply by some cost cutting like stripping some safety features. There is a price for everything, A good quality car cannot be cheap. One cannot be dreaming of all the safety features and quality parts when one is buying low cost cars manufactured using low cost engineering and labour. There is a market for such low cost products. Not everyone can afford a few hundred thousands for an European or Japanese or even Korean made cars.
It is all about practicality and being realistic in the consumers’ expectation. Low cost engineering, low cost labour and low cost products can find its low niche even in an expensive first world city. We only need to have quality products and services in politics and govts. The rest of the industries can offer a range, from the best to the lowest cost products.
The only consideration is whether Singaporeans could cope with the income if they are trained in low cost engineering, producing low cost products and drawing low cost salary. For the super talents, there are many, some are thumping their chests to open up the economy to foreigners as they feel confident enough to take on the best in the world, they can continue to compete in the higher end jobs. Many would not even mind competing with fakes as they know that they are really good and fakes or foreign talents are no match for them. They will survive under all circumstances even outperforming cheats and fakes.
For the normal average Sinkies, they should lower their expectations and embrace low cost engineering as a new opportunity. With CECA they can become expats in India and compete with the brilliant Indian low cost engineers for jobs there. India is a continent and there should be no problem finding a job there.
We have been encouraging our people to downgrade, from housing, jobs and homes. So it is normal to downgrade our pursuit of knowledge from high tech to low cost engineering, from producing high quality goods and services to low quality engineering stuff. Never mind if we move from 1st World to 3rd World. We are nearly there. A low cost manufacturing hub.
Kopi level - Yellow
HDB – what a pleasant gesture
It is a nice feeling to read something in the news that brings a smile
on your face. A HDB parking ticket stuck on the windscreen spelt trouble
or money blown away. Jocelyn Loh had such a ticket on Saturday on her
windscreen and her CNY mood crumbled immediately. How much would she
have to pay for visiting her newborn nephew during the CNY season? It
was a double happiness affair!
To her pleasant surprise there was a little note scribbled on the parking ticket with the words, ‘I give you chanes(chance) . Happy new year’. It was a little gesture that made the day for her. Hopefully other motorists who did the same act would also have the same little surprise in the spirit of the New Year. Hopefully the warden would not be slapped by HDB for the little discretion exercised to show a little graciousness in our talk money only society.
Compare this incident with the NEA and AHPETC incident, one can only shake the head and feel embarrassed by the unthoughtful act of making people miserable during a festive season. And we thought kindness is in the air with a Singapore Kindness Movement campaign being launched. What happened, they did not coordinate this matter and only the SKM people know and want kindness to be spread but not the rest of the establishment?
Nice gesture HDB. Still waiting for SMRT to show some kind gesture to the student being charged in court. Oops, they can’t do anything now. Only the authority can exercise some mercy.
Happy New Year everyone. And Happy New Year HDB, especially the warden. We need to have a soul and not unthinking and unfeeling robots that do not have any feelings or life in them. Can't imagine them talking about kindness.
To her pleasant surprise there was a little note scribbled on the parking ticket with the words, ‘I give you chanes(chance) . Happy new year’. It was a little gesture that made the day for her. Hopefully other motorists who did the same act would also have the same little surprise in the spirit of the New Year. Hopefully the warden would not be slapped by HDB for the little discretion exercised to show a little graciousness in our talk money only society.
Compare this incident with the NEA and AHPETC incident, one can only shake the head and feel embarrassed by the unthoughtful act of making people miserable during a festive season. And we thought kindness is in the air with a Singapore Kindness Movement campaign being launched. What happened, they did not coordinate this matter and only the SKM people know and want kindness to be spread but not the rest of the establishment?
Nice gesture HDB. Still waiting for SMRT to show some kind gesture to the student being charged in court. Oops, they can’t do anything now. Only the authority can exercise some mercy.
Happy New Year everyone. And Happy New Year HDB, especially the warden. We need to have a soul and not unthinking and unfeeling robots that do not have any feelings or life in them. Can't imagine them talking about kindness.
2/02/2014
WP, to slap or not to slap the driver
After Low Thia Kiang’s infamous analogy of slapping a driver
that had gone to sleep or taking the wrong turn, there were high expectations
that the slapping would continue and be more frequently done. This is especially
so when the driver is seen to have been driving wildly, speeding and breaking
all the traffic rules. With this background, one can appreciate why there is a
sense of anger and frustration when the slapping somehow has stopped. Some were even accusing the co driver for
falling asleep or been bought over by the driver. Many are now using this self
assigned role of the WP to judge their performance, and found them wanting.
Why has the slapping stopped suddenly? The curiosities
surrounding this turn of event are growing. Has the WP back tracked on what it
professed to do? It is definitely not a case of a driver driving well and
proper and no reason to slap. That makes thing more uncomfortable and the
critics more impatient. You could actually hear them screaming for more
slapping. The unlikely thing now is that the critics are turning around to slap
the co driver for sleeping on the job instead, for inaction.
What would you do if you were Low Thia Kiang or the WP? One
school of thought is that it is better to let the driver continues driving all
over the place and to the wrong place or over a cliff. Why bother to correct
him? Would it not be better to let the driver in his drunken stupor or state of
delirium to drive over the cliff?
There is some wisdom and practical values to this. When the
enemy is making all the mistakes, do not stop him. Instead, the enemy should be
encouraged to make more mistakes and believing that everything is fine. Now, is
this the new strategy of the WP? To make sense of what is happening, this is
the only logical reason. The WP cannot be seen as inept or losing their little
balls if they want to be the main opposition party to take on the PAP. Losing
credibility in the eyes of their supporters is a very serious slip and would
undermine their efforts to win more supporters and voters to their side.
The good thing about a good teacher or a good driver
constantly slapping a driver to take the right course of action is that it
would benefit the driver more than the co driver/teacher. For all the hard work
of slapping, everything turns out well and the co driver cannot reap any
rewards for his effort. Let it fall, let the wayward driver drives in whatever
way he wants, let him get into accidents and crash the car would be a better
result but with a bigger price to pay for the passengers.
To slap or not to slap the driver is a tough choice really.
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When I saw the two amounts of interests side by side, the numbers obviously did not tally.
After going through the whole year's statement, I found another payment in July. The interest paid for Medisave is 4% while Retirement is 4 + 1%.
Why would they be computing interest payments differently, I dunno. My concern has been cleared and the payment is correct.